C. Renay Friendshuh

Hello, I'm Renay! As a narrative therapist, I believe our stories are powerful. Mine began in a rural farming community in the Midwest which taught me to be curious about people. I dove into psychology for my Bachelors' at Carleton College in Minnesota, then worked in a high-needs school program in Albuquerque before returning for my Master's in Counseling from Adams State University in Colorado. I have stayed in this beautiful state since then, working in rural, community mental health and crisis counseling.

I am especially drawn to trauma work and often incorporate EMDR to help my clients work through feelings of Depression and Anxiety, as well as Triggering Memories and the lasting, Negative Beliefs that too-often come with them, like "I'm good enough." Other stress symptoms such as Body Tension, Numbness, Self-Sabotage and Attachment/Relationship Issues also commonly show up within this work. I enjoy working with individuals of all ages as well as couples, families and friends. I would be honored to hear your story and help empower you to write the next chapter.

Practicing person-centered counseling means I firmly believe you know yourself best. I also know it doesn't always feel that way. It can be hard to trust and to challenge ourselves. My approach can help you get to know yourself, get comfortable with your emotions, and get curious about your reactions. Together, we can learn from the natural stress responses that bring you into therapy and empower change. Often, I will incorporate somatic (body) awareness into sessions, as well as creativity and narrative exercises that help us separate you from the problem. You are not the problem; the problem is the problem.

Our first session is about getting to know one another. From that, I will draft a personalized narrative and go over it with you so we can collaborate on your goals and treatment plan. I will not tell you what to do or what not to do, as it would neither help nor honor you. What I will offer is unconditional positive regard, empathic challenges, skills resourcing, and reflection in a safe space. I come to sessions with flexibility and curiosity to meet you where you're at, whether you come with "something to talk about" or not. Depending on your goals, I often provide an invitation to focus on between sessions to make sure you're getting the most out of therapy.